Sports stats



PCL1 Memphis Redbirds

Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (67-68) at New Orleans Baby Cakes (70-63)

August 29, 2019 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Memphis Redbirds News Release


Memphis Redbirds (67-68) at New Orleans Baby Cakes (70-63)

Thursday, August 29 - 7:00 p.m. (CT) - The Shrine on Airline (10,000) - New Orleans, Louisiana

Game #136 - Road Game #66 (34-31)

LHP Austin Warner (4-2, 5.56) vs RHP Josh Roeder (0-1, 4.32)

BY THE NUMBERS

98 Days since the Redbirds last had a record at or above .500. The Redbirds were 23-23 following their victory over the Nashville Sounds on May 23. They have been under .500 ever since. The Redbirds were also a season-low 21-games under entering play on July 18. Since then, they have won 29 of their last 38 games.

17 Number of Redbirds that have made their Triple-A debuts this season after Bryan Dobzanski took the mound in last night's game. The 2018 Redbirds had 20 players make their Triple-A debuts last season.

THE GAME

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Memphis Redbirds continue their eight-game road trip to end the season in the fourth and final game against the New Orleans Baby Cakes this series. Tonight is the final game to be played at The Shrine on Airline as the organization moves to Wichita next season. The Redbirds clinched at least a series split by winning last night's game 11-3. All nine Redbird staters recorded at least one hit and one run and three Redbirds had multi-hit performances. Edmundo Sosa recorded his second four-hit game of the season and it was his team-high 35th multi-hit game of the season. Andrew Knizner and Randy Arozarena each homered and drove in two runs. Byran Dobzanski made his Triple-A debut and retired all six batters faced in 2.0 perfect innings of work. He fanned the first two batters he faced. Tonight's game will be broadcast live on www.memphisredbirds.com with Steve Selby on the call.

ON THE HILL: Left-hander Austin Warner is scheduled to take the mound in series opener and make his 11th start for Memphis and his 25th overall start this season across all levels. In 10 starts with the Redbirds, Warner has gone 4-2, 5.56 (34 ER/55.0 IP) to go along with 54 strikeouts and 28 walks. In his last time out on Friday vs. Omaha, he earned the win for the third-straight start (7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R/ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) in the Redbirds' 9-1 victory over the Storm Chasers. It was his longest start with the Redbirds this season and it was his first quality start since July 12. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four-straight starts and this was his first outing in which he has allowed none. Warner has allowed five hits or fewer in two-straight, lowering his opponent's average at the Triple-A level from .320 to .294 (64x218). In 55.0 innings of work at Memphis, Warner has allowed 14 home runs compared to allowing just 10 long balls in 82.1 innings at the Double-A level. He has allowed at least one long ball in eight of his 10 starts. He has made two starts against New Orleans this season, going a combined 0-1, 8.02 (9 ER/10.1 IP) with both starts coming at AutoZone Park. He most recently faced the Baby Cakes on July 24, suffering the loss (4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R/ER, 4 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR) in the Redbirds' 5-2 defeat. Warner began the season going 4-6, 3.83 (35 ER/82.1 IP) in 15 games, 14 starts with Double-A Springfield this season. In his 14 starts, eight of them were quality starts and he has made four-straight such outings at that level. Warner was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 10-16, where he went 2-0, 2.21 in two starts, struck-out 16 batters during that span. His performances this season led him to be named a TL Mid-Season All-Star, where he pitched a scoreless inning, fanning one in his appearance on June 25. Warner left the TL ranking 2nd with 88 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. He also ranked 8th with a 3.83 ERA. He made his 2019 Memphis debut on June 30 vs. New Orleans, where he took no-decision (6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, 3 HR) in the Redbirds' 10-6 victory over the Baby Cakes. The Louisville, Ky., native is in his third professional season and has spent them all within the St. Louis organization. He entered the season ranked as the No. 30 prospect in the St. Louis organization by Baseball America and is currently ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the system by MLB.com.

The Baby Cakes are scheduled to start right-hander Josh Roeder in tonight's series finale. The 26-year-old is scheduled to make his third start for the Baby Cakes and his 28th appearance overall across all levels this season. Roeder has gone 0-1, 4.32 (4 ER/8.1 IP) in two starts with the Baby Cakes this season and is yielding an opponent's average of .353 (12x34). In his last time out on Saturday vs. Mobile with Double-A Jacksonville, he took no-decision in the start (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR) in the Jumbo Shrimps' 3-1 victory over the BayBears. In his second stint at Jacksonville this season, Roeder went 1-3, 3.50 (17 ER/43.2 IP) to go along with 33 strikeouts and 22 walks. He also yielded an opponent's average of .221 (36x163) over 15 games, five starts. His last appearance for New Orleans came on June 8 vs. Sacramento, where he took no-decision in the start (4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) in the Baby Cakes' 4-3 victory over the River Cats. Roeder began the year at Advanced-A Jupiter, where he went 0-0, 2.00 (2 ER/9.0 IP) in three games, two starts for the Hammerheads. He made his Double-A debut on May 1 and would later make his Triple-A debut on May 11. Tonight will be the first time that he has faced the Redbirds in his career. The Plano, Texas, native is in his fifth professional season and his second within the Miami organization. He had spent the first two years of his professional career within various levels of the New York-AL organization.

HISTORY WITH NEW ORLEANS: Memphis has faced off against New Orleans every year since 1998 and trail 173-178 in the all-time series. In the 10 years that the Redbirds have faced off against the Miami Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans, the 'Birds have winning records at the Shrine on Airline in just three seasons, 2009 (5-3), 2013 (5-3) and 2017 (6-3). Despite the Redbirds overall dominance in 2018, they went 7-9 against the Baby Cakes, including a 4-4 record at home. Their overall record against the Miami Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans is 88-87.

Memphis has faced off with Miami's top affiliate every year since 2003. From 2003-08, the Albuquerque Isotopes played host for the Marlins Triple-A club, where the Redbirds had a 44-54 record over six seasons. Over the 16 seasons that the Redbirds have faced off against Miami's Triple-A club, the 'Birds trail 132-140 overall.

THE SEASON

ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Edmundo Sosa went 4-for-5 and Andrew Knizner and Randy Arozarena homered in an 11-3 Memphis Redbirds win over the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins) Wednesday night in New Orleans, La.

The win is Memphis' 16th in its last 19 games. Each Redbirds (67-68) starter had at least one hit and one run scored in the game, and six drove in runs.

Arozarena led off the game with a single, and he is now on a seven-game hitting streak while reaching base in 44-straight starts.

Memphis led 4-0 before New Orleans (70-63) scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning. Chris Ellis worked 5.0 innings and picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits, before being lifted.

Bryan Dobzanski made his Triple-A debut with a scoreless sixth inning, and the Redbirds exploded for seven runs on five hits in the top of the seventh while New Orleans made two of its five errors in the game. Arozarena capped off the inning with his 11th home run of the season and fourth in six games, a two-run shot.

Dobzanski worked another scoreless inning in the seventh, and Chasen Shreve tossed the final two frames for the Redbirds.

Justin Williams was on base three times in the game with two singles and a walk.

NINE UP, NINE DOWN: In Saturday night's game against Omaha, Genesis Cabrera became just the second pitcher in Pacific Coast League history to strikeout nine-straight batters in a game. From the last two outs of the third inning to the first out in the sixth, Cabrera punched-out nine in a row, six swinging and three looking to equal Alex Reyes' record, set last year on May 23 vs. Oklahoma City. The two Redbird pitchers are the only players in PCL history to have fanned nine consecutive batters.

REDBIRDS SLUG WAY INTO RECORD BOOKS: Adolis Garcia's home run in the second inning of Friday night's game against the Storm Chasers was the Redbirds 174th long ball of the season, matching the franchise record set by the 2004 team. Andrew Knizner made history two innings later by launching the team's 175th home run of the season. Randy Arozarena's home run in the eighth was the 84th home run hit at AutoZone Park this season, matching the franchise record set by the 2002 squad and later matched by the '04 team. Edmundo Sosa's home run in the first inning of Saturday night's contest was the 85th at this facility, breaking the record. The Redbirds have already hit a franchise record 93 home runs on the road this season as well.

CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARDS: As Adolis Garcia continues his power surge at the plate, he has entered and climbed into the Top-10 in several batting categories on the Redbirds all-time lists. His two home runs Sunday brought him to 55 in his Redbirds career, now just one shy of matching Scott Seabol for third. He also has 30 long balls on the season, becoming just the eighth Redbird to reach that mark. His three RBI last Sunday brought him to 173 in his career, just three shy of matching Allen Craig for fourth. He also ranks T-3rd in triples (12), 7th in strikeouts (281), T-7th in hit by pitches (17) and 5th in extra-base hits (125).

ROSTER MOVES: The following roster moves were made prior to last night's game: Zac Rosscup was placed on the 7-Day injured list and Bryan Dobzanski was transferred from Double-A Springfield.

Rosscup had gone 0-0, 4.50 (4 ER/8.0 IP) in eight relief appearances for the Redbirds after joining the team on July 30.

Dobzanski joins the Redbirds and is slated to make his Triple-A debut with his first game appearance. In 43 games, one start between Springfield and Advanced-A Palm Beach, he has gone 3-2, 2.53 (15 ER/53.1 IP) with 62 strikeouts and 25 walks. After going 1-1, 0.89 (2 ER/20.1 IP) at Palm Beach to begin the season, he has named a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star. He made his Double-A debut on June 9.

KINGS OF THE HILL: After falling to a season-low 21 games under .500 following their 11-8 defeat at Round Rock on July 17, the Redbirds have won 29 of their last 38 games and are now one game under .500, their lowest mark since May 23. The 29 wins are the most by any team in the Pacific Coast League and they only team with more than 25 wins during that span. Their turnaround has been backed by stellar pitching, as the Redbirds pitching staff leads the PCL in several different categories. They lead the league in ERA (3.73), hits (286), runs (143), earned runs (138), WHIP (1.32), and average (.232) and in home runs allowed (38), while ranking 3rd in strikeouts (355) and in saves (12). They have also posted four shutouts during that span, one of just two teams in the PCL to have more than three.

DYLAN HITS DINGERS: In his first-11 career games at the Triple-A level, Dylan Carlson had continued his torrid form with Double-A Springfield, posting a slash of .455/.510/.773/1.283 to go along with three home runs and seven RBI. He had at least two hits in seven of his last nine starts during that span and has three-hit performances in three of his last six starts. He had hit safely in all 10 of those starts. He had also homered in three of his last eight games during that span. Over his first 11 games at the Triple-A level, Carlson ranked 2nd in the in the Pacific Coast League in hits (20), 3rd in average (.455), 5th in OBP (.510), 6th in OPS (1.283) and 8th in SLG (.773).

SOSA CONTINUES SURGE: Following his return from a brief three-game stint with the St. Louis Cardinals on July 21, Edmundo Sosa has been dominant at the plate for the Redbirds and has played a large part in their late-season turnaround. In his last 31 games, Sosa has posted a slash of .385/.408/.562/.970 and has hits in 27 of those contests. His average is the highest in Pacific Coast League over that time frame. He has five doubles, six home runs and 26 RBI during that span, and has multi-hit performances in 14 games. He has also raised his batting average from .252 to .292.

PONCE DE LEON DOMINANT IN AUGUST: After setting the pace with 4.0 no-hit innings on August 4 in Memphis' 2-0 win over El Paso and a dominant 7.0 two-hit innings on August 9 at Sacramento, Daniel Ponce de Leon dazzled again on August 15 by twirling 7.0 scoreless frames against the Cubs, allowing just two hits and whiffing nine batters. In Tuesday night's start against Round Rock, he allowed just one run over 6.0 innings. In his five starts this month, Ponce de Leon has gone 4-0, 0.93 (3 ER/29.0 IP) and has fanned 39 batters compared to just 13 walks issued. Through 16 starts with Memphis this season, he has held opponents to a .203 average (62x2306), a figure that would lead the PCL if he qualified.

PONCE DE LEON NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Memphis Redbirds starting pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for August 5-11, the league announced on August 12.

Ponce de Leon earned the honor after throwing seven scoreless frames and allowing just two hits on Friday's 15-0 Memphis win over the Sacramento River Cats (Giants) in Sacramento. He struck out a season-high 11 batters, which was also the most strikeouts by a Redbirds pitcher this season, and issued no walks.

Check out the Memphis Redbirds Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...

Pacific Coast League Stories from August 29, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central